# Ground-Plum (*astragalus crassicarpus*)

The Ground-Plum is a delightful plant that grows low to the ground. Its colorful pods look like little plums, making it an exciting find for nature explorers!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Ground-Plum thrives in grasslands and open areas across North America.
- **Also known as:** Buffalo Clover, Plum Pea

![Ground-Plum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Astragalus_crassicarpus.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Clarence A. Rechenthin, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Astragalus_crassicarpus.jpg)

## Appearance

The Ground-Plum is a low-growing plant with silvery-green, fern-like leaves. It produces purplish-pink to white, pea-like flowers, which are followed by distinctive, fleshy, greenish-purple pods that resemble small plums sitting on the ground.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Fabales
- **Family:** Fabaceae
- **Genus:** Astragalus

## Interesting facts

- Eating too much Ground-Plum can make grazing animals very sick!
- Its 'plums' are fleshy pea pods, not real fruit like plums!
- Its strong roots help it survive in really dry, tough places!
- This plant is a super 'soil helper,' adding nutrients to the ground!

## Special abilities

- **Selenium Shield:** Ground-Plum can absorb special elements from the soil, storing them to make itself less tasty or even harmful to hungry animals.
- **Thirsty Rooter:** Ground-Plum has extra-long roots that reach deep into the soil, helping it find water even during dry, sunny weather.
- **Soil Builder:** Ground-Plum can enrich the soil by partnering with tiny underground microbes to create important nutrients for itself and other plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 20-50 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers
- **Symbiotic with:** Rhizobium bacteria (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — helps fix nitrogen in the soil
- **Parasitizes:** Ground-Plum Borer (*Agrilus astragali*) — larvae tunnel into stems, weakening the plant
- **Eaten by:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — may consume seeds or underground parts

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Ground-Plum?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Ground-Plum?

10-30 cm

### How wide does Ground-Plum spread?

20-50 cm

### How big are the flowers on Ground-Plum?

1-2 cm

### When does Ground-Plum bloom?

Spring

### Is Ground-Plum edible?

No

### Is Ground-Plum toxic?

High

### What is Ground-Plum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Fort Clark Trading Post State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-clark-trading-post-state-historic-site) — North Dakota, US · Historic Site
- [Crowsnest Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crowsnest-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Ground-Plum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-plum)